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frenandjen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Miscarriage
Moderate: Kidnapping, Forced institutionalization, Classism, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Violence, Toxic relationship, Racism, Pregnancy, Medical content, Infertility, Racial slurs, Child death, Blood, Abortion, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Slavery, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
hudsononaux's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Pregnancy, Infertility, Abandonment, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Racism, and Medical content
Moderate: Confinement, Police brutality, Gaslighting, Rape, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, and Sexual content
daniber's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Moderate: Miscarriage, Abortion, Infertility, Sexual harassment, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Classism, Racial slurs, Misogyny, Child abuse, and Grief
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Blood, and Bullying
mitchelldavis1997's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Infertility, Medical content, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Abortion
jazful's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Confinement, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Classism, Miscarriage, Emotional abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Blood, Death, Fatphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, Racial slurs, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Colonisation, Drug use, Grief, Infertility, Medical content, Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Racism
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Blood, Bullying, and Colonisation
moniipeters's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Classism, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Abortion, Death, Pedophilia, Abandonment, Blood, Excrement, Grief, Infertility, Miscarriage, Violence, Racism, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Infidelity, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Confinement, and Cursing
meghan8715's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Grief, Infertility, Drug abuse, Medical trauma, Blood, Religious bigotry, Classism, Racial slurs, and Miscarriage
Minor: Alcoholism and Vomit
erickaonpaper's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Racism
Moderate: Blood and Addiction
Minor: Classism, Rape, Abortion, and Adult/minor relationship
kelly_e's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Author: Sadeqa Johnson
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 5.00
Pub Date: February 7, 2023
T H R E E • W O R D S
Redemptive • Haunting • Luminous
📖 S Y N O P S I S
1950s Philadelphia: fifteen-year-old Ruby Pearsall is on track to becoming the first in her family to attend college, in spite of having a mother more interested in keeping a man than raising a daughter. But a taboo love affair threatens to pull her back down into the poverty and desperation that has been passed on to her like a birthright.
Eleanor Quarles arrives in Washington, DC, with ambition and secrets. When she meets the handsome William Pride at Howard University, they fall madly in love. But William hails from one of DC’s elite wealthy Black families, and his parents don’t let just anyone into their fold. Eleanor hopes that a baby will make her finally feel at home in William’s family and grant her the life she’s been searching for. But having a baby—and fitting in—is easier said than done.
With their stories colliding in the most unexpected of ways, Ruby and Eleanor will both make decisions that shape the trajectory of their lives.
💭 T H O U G H T S
As a lover of historical fiction, it will come as no surprise that The House of Eve was one of my most anticipated 2023 winter releases, so when it was chosen as an Aardvark selection for February, it was an easy choice. I went in without having read the synopsis, and I was blown away by this novel.
The writing provides everything the reader needs to know without being excessively detailed, making this novel highly readable. I honestly could not put it down! Sadeqa Johnson managed to bring the story to life through her memorable characters, and by hooking my attention from the very first page, straight through to the satisfying end. She explores many themes - womanhood and women's rights, motherhood and ambition, poverty and classism, race and colourism, as well as a snippet of wealthy Black history. And she does all of it with great knowledge and care.
Historical fiction is genre I typically gravitate towards because learning about new aspects of the past while reading is something I absolutely love. And this book certainly opened my eyes (and my mind) to an area of Black history I have very seldom encountered in my reading life. Even though it is a more of fiction, it's very important to read the author's note at the end. Sadeqa details her family history and the authenticity of the content.
I must say The House of Eve was the historical fiction novel I needed to get out of a streak of mediocre reads. Ruby and Eleanor, combined with the exploration of the price women pay for love, completely enraptured me, and I know this story will stay with me for a long time. It was a book that reminded me why I love reading so much - to find stories that need telling, to learn and have my perspectives broadened. I've definitely moved Yellow Wife up my priority list, and am already anticipating whatever Sadeqa publishes next.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of dual timeline/dual perspective
• readers looking for women's right historical fiction
• bookclubs
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Knowing about racism and being abused by its wrath were two different things."
"And this trip downtown had shown me that we even had to fight for what should have been free: our dignity."
Graphic: Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, Infertility, Racism, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, and Medical content
Moderate: Grief, Blood, Alcoholism, Classism, and Sexual assault
Minor: Abortion, Rape, and Emotional abuse
colourism, adoption, povertyshawnna_reads2's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Infertility, Classism, Death, Abortion, Blood, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Suicide attempt, Miscarriage, Racism, and Self harm
Moderate: Rape, Sexism, Addiction, and Alcohol